Responding to claims by David Trimble that republicans have
broken promises they made at Hillsborough, Sinn Fein President
Gerry Adams MP has accused the Ulster Unionist Party leader of
``dishonestly trying to shift public blame for the current crisis
away from the British Government and the UUP leadership, and on
to republicans''.

Speaking in Dublin today, Mr Adams said:

``This
is one of David Trimble's stated objectives in his October 27th
letter to the Ulster Unionist Council delegates. It is about
unionism trying to exercise a veto over the Good Friday Agreement
and over political progress.

``The challenge for Mr Trimble is to
spell out the promises which republicans are supposed to have
broken.

``The reality is that the British Government made public
commitments on May 5th which were spelt out in the joint letter
and joint statement issued with the Irish Government.

``The IRA's
commitments, both in terms of its confidence-building measures
and its discussions with the IICD, were made in that context.

``A
deal was struck and the IRA has honoured its commitments on the
confidence-building measures and has made it clear that it has
not broken off discussions with the IICD.

``On the other hand, the British Government has clearly and
indisputably reneged on its commitments on policing and
demilitarisation and other matters. This is most obvious on the
policing issue, where the British Government committed itself to
implementing the Patten Report and the legislation fails that
test miserably.

``The British Government has broken the contract
it made with republicans in May. Unless Mr Blair addresses this
issue seriously, urgently, and comprehensively, there is little
prospect of a positive outcome to this rolling crisis.''